1. The author's use of colorful adjectives such as "jagged", "hitching", and "lodged" create for the reader powerful imagery, allowing them to understand the helplessness Jojo feels within the scene.

2. With phrases such as "bubbling from my stomach" and "sank deep", the author assists the reader in sympathizing with the physical discomfort or pain Jojo experiences.

3. The narrative structure of how the author shifts Jojo's thoughts as the scene goes on, gives the reader a clear, astute change his view of his mother.

1. She uses imagery to depict the gravity jojo feels while being left outside the house alone. (2-5)

   (unfinished)

1. Ward uses extremely descriptive sensory language to portray JoJo's difficulty speaking up to his mother, which shows how at first, he respected and adored his mother.

2. Through the use of characterization, Ward shows just how neglectful Leonie is toward her own children.

3. Ward uses figurative language multiple times throughout this excerpt to portray JoJo's complicated feelings about his mother.

1. The author uses strong imagery to convey the intensity of Jojo's experience.

2. The author uses a variety of comparisons in order to emphasize Leonie's immaturity and carelessness.

3. Leonie speaks in a guilty tone in attempt to relieve the irresponsibility of her actions.

In the 2017 novel, Sing, Unburied, Sing, author Jesmyn Ward utilizes intense imagery, cold dialogue, and narrative structure to depict Jojo's complex relationship with his mother, Leonie. Their complex dynamic show how neglect and absence corrupt the possibility of a loving mother-son relationship.

Topic 1:

Jesmyn Ward uses intense imagery to reflect and describe Jojo's initial feelings in response to Leonie's abandoning and neglecting him as jarring and painful.

Topic 2:

Leonie's dialogue is written as cold and careless which shows the level of neglect she gives to Jojo and their relationship.

Topic 3:

The narrative structure of the passage provides added insight to Jojo's unfolding emotions as Leonie's neglect corrupts their relationship.

• Jesmyn Ward uses sensory language when Jojo injures his leg outside, fully expressing the pain and abandonment Jojo felt.

• The author also uses growing characterization through Jojo who, initially scared to stand up to his mother, learns to stand up for himself towards her.

• Ward uses metaphoric language as Jojo chokes on his sandwich to convey his internal struggle to argue with his mother.

1. Through her use of powerful auditory and visual imagery, Ward allows the reader to visualize Jojo home alone and sympathize with him.

2. Through her use of comparisons, Ward highlights the differences between each generation of the family, Pop, Leonie, and Jojo.

unfinished

• By focusing on details throughout the passage, Ward shows how this moment stuck with Jojo, causing the beginnings of a difficult relationship with Leonie to surface.

• Throughout the passage, Ward writes with the intension of making Jojo's relationship with Leonie difficult by uses words that provide a sense of aggression.

• Ward offers Jojo's thoughts to be read, offering insight into how his ideas of Leonie change, affecting their relationship.

Topic Sentence 1: Ward uses intense imagery such as jagged and hitching to illustrate that JoJo feels hopeless when he get injured after Leonie leaves, putting more stress on their relationship.

Topic Sentence 2: The author's use of sensory language like "sank deep" and

unfinished

1. Ward uses selective narrative throughout the passage to enable the reader to understand what JoJo's emotions and feelings.

2. The passage as a whole contains negative tone as it is a sensitive story that has long lasting effects on JoJo.

3. Ward uses extremely vivid (unfinished)

1. Jojo paints his mother as a stranger invading his life which exemplifies his need for independence as he grows older.

2. Leonie's neglectful parenting forces Jojo to experience

unfinished

In the passage from the 2017 novel Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward, Jojo's lonesome yet eye-opening experience being left home alone for the first time is conveyed through strong imagery, comparisons, and Leonies guilty tone. Jojo's complex understanding of his situation illustrates how maturity in healthy mother/son relationships must be a well-balanced exchange.

1. The author's use of strong imagery throughout the passage display the change that Jojo experiences with his mother.

2. The comparisons that Jojo makes throughout the excerpt help the reader to see how the change in Jojo's relationship with his mother affects him.

3. The words chosen by Leonie as she speaks harshly towards her family demonstrate the lack of respect and responsibility she has towards her family.

1. The vivid and painful imagery describing Jojo's pain and suffering draws pity from the reader. (unfinished)

2. The author uses many comparisons when describing Jojo's thoughts about Leonie's neglect to draw greater attention to the crippling relationship between mother and son.

3. Jesmyn Ward uses alliteration when describing the actions and choices the character makes emphasizing the personalities of each member of Jojo's family

1.      In the passage, Ward’s use of imagery displays the conflict between JoJo and Leonie. Lines 55-57

2.      In the passage, the selective narrative structure gives the reader the understanding of Leonie's negative dialogue. lines 48-50

3.      In the passage, JoJo’s tone displays a negative narrative regarding Leonie. Lines 53-54

UNFINISHED

Topic Sentences:

1.      Vivid imagery throughout the passage exhibits the tense, unsafe environment Jojo is placed in during his childhood.

2.      Through expressive dialogue and negative tone within the passage, the author displays the significance of parental presence and responsibility on Jojo.

3.      Through the use of selective narrative structure, readers learn about Jojo and Leonie’s complicated relationship from both points of view, emphasizing the struggling family dynamics between characters.

1. The strong auditory and visual imagery in the passage exemplify Jojo's curiosity and fear when he's left alone.

2. The use of comparisons in the passage demonstrate the lack of trust Jojo has for his mother.

3. Leonie's guilty tone throughout the passage further illustrates her internal conflict... unfinished

(Topic 1) Ward first uses comparisons such as similes and metaphors to convey Jojo's feelings of abandonment and offense at his mother's actions.

(Topic 2) Ward includes vivid imagery throughout the passage to evoke emotion from the readers and illustrate

(UNFINISHED)

Ward uses the words "growl" and "jagged" to display a negative tone and the disdain Jojo feels toward his mother and the consequences of her actions.

Jojo describes Leonie with "crooked teeth" explaining his feelings about his mother's lack of responsibility.

unfinished

1. m

2. 
   

3. Ward's figuratively comparative language assists in demonstrating Jojo's distrust and aversion towards his mother.

   
   

1. Jesmyn Ward uses intense imagery to illustrate Jojo's feelings towards Leonie being an absent mother. Although she was present, she was never there to take part in Jojo's life to be a better mother.

2. Ward uses sensory language to emphasize Jojo's thoughts and how he takes in every small details against Leonie. His maturity begins to grow as Leonie's maturity declines as she is never present for her family.

3. Wards uses narrative structure to show the complexity within the family. Jojo calls his mother by her name, Leonie, to show he does not find her as a motherly figure at this point of time.

1. The vivid imagery displayed in

unfinished

1.      The negative tone throughout the passage conveys the dark and hatred aspect of JoJo’s complex relationship with his mother.

2.      In the passage the detailed use of imagery reveals the longing for love and deep spite JoJo holds towards his mother

3.      Throughout the passage, the use of selective narrative structure builds the understanding of JoJo’s idea towards him and his mother’s complex relationship…. Unfinished.

Throughout the excerpt, Ward utilizes sensory language to give the reader insight into the unsavory emotions Jojo is experiencing.

Ward also uses Jojo's characterization to convey his changing feelings for his mother, ultimately leading to him beginning to call her Leonie.

UNFINISHED